Tape recording methods and apparatus

In apparatus for transducing information relative to an information carrier tape, the improvement comprising in combination:

• a base;
• a cylindrical tape drive capstan mounted on said base for rotation about a line of intersection of two relatively stationary planes extending through said cylindrical capstan at right angles to each other;
• means for placing said tape in a loop about said capstan, including means for forming at one side of one of said planes and at one side of the other of said planes a first unsupported tape portion in said loop and at the other side of said one plane and said one side of said other plane a second unsupported tape portion in said loop, said forming means including means for spacing said tape from said capstan along a curvature having a radius smaller than the radius of said capstan and having on said one plane an apex spaced from said capstan by a distance shorter than said smaller radius;
• means for forming said tape into a first leg adjacent said loop at the other side of said other plane and bringing said first leg into proximity to said one side of said one plane, for forming said tape into a second leg adjacent said loop at said other side of said other plane and bringing said second leg into proximity to said other side of said one plane, and for bringing said first and second legs into proximity to each other at a distance between said first and second legs smaller than the distance between said first and second unsupported portions, whereby said tape is maintained in driving engagement with said capstan throughout a first peripheral region extending from said first unsupported portion to a portion of said loop adjacent said first leg and in driving engagement with said capstan throughout a second peripheral region extending from said second unsupported portion to a portion of said loop adjacent said second leg;
• means connected to said capstan for rotating said capstan to advance said tape;
• and
• means for transducing information relative to said advancing tape between said curvature and said first peripheral region at said first unsupported tape portion and for transducing information relative to said advancing tape between said curvature and said second peripheral region at said second unsupported tape portion.

In apparatus for transducing information relative to an information carrier tape, the improvement comprising in combination:

• a base;
• a cylindrical tape drive capstan mounted on said base for rotation about a line of intersection of two relatively stationary planes extending through said cylindrical capstan at right angles to each other;
• means for placing said tape in a loop about said capstan, including means for forming at one side of one of said planes and at one side of the other of said planes a first unsupported tape portion in said loop and for forming said tape into a first leg adjacent said first unsupported tape portion and bringing said first leg into proximity to said one side of said one plane, and means for forming at the other side of said one plane and said one side of said other plane a second unsupported tape portion in said loop, and for forming said tape into a second leg adjacent said second unsupported tape portion and bringing said second leg into proximity to said other side of said one plane;
• said means for forming said first unsupported tape portion and said first leg including a first tape guiding device;
• said means for forming said second unsupported tape portion and said second leg including a second tape guiding device;
• said first tape guiding device having a tape guiding surface having a curvature and a thickness behind said tape guiding surface of less than a radius of said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said first tape guiding device;
• said second tape guiding device having a tape guiding surface having a curvature and a thickness behind said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device of less than a radius of said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device;
• a first information transducing device;
• a second information transducing device;
• means connected to said first transducing device for releasably mounting said first transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said first unsupported tape portion and partially behind said first tape guiding device as seen from said tape guiding surface of said first tape guiding device;
• means connected to said second transducing device for releasably mounting sid second transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said second unsupported tape portion and partially behind said second tape guiding device as seen from said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device;
• and
• means connected to said capstan for rotating said capstan to advance said tape.

In apparatus for transducing information relative to an information carrier tape, the improvement comprising in combination:

• a base;
• a cylindrical tape drive capstan mounted on said base for rotation about a line of intersection of two relatively stationary planes extending through said cylindrical capstan at right angles to each other;
• means for placing said tape in a loop about said capstan, including means for forming at one side of one of said planes and at one side of the other of said planes a first unsupported tape portion in said loop and for forming said tape into a first leg adjacent said first unsupported tape portion and bringing said first leg into proximity to said one side of said one plane, means for forming at the other side of said one plane and said one side of said other plane a second unsupported tape portion in said loop, and for forming said tape into a second leg adjacent said second unsupported tape portion and bringing said second leg into proximity to said other side of said one plane, and means for forming at one side of said one plane and at the other side of said other plane a third unsupported tape portion in said loop and at the other side of said one plane and at the other side of the other of said planes a fourth unsupported tape portion in said loop;
• said means for forming said first unsupported tape portion and said first leg including a first tape guiding device;
• said means for forming said second unsupported tape portion and said second leg including a second tape guiding device;
• said first tape guiding device having a tape guiding surface having a curvature and a thickness behind said tape guiding surface of less than a radius of said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said first tape guiding device;
• said second tape guiding device having a tape guiding surface having a curvature and a thickness behind said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device of less than a radius of said curvature of said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device;
• said means for forming said third and fourth unsupported tape portions including means for spacing said tape from said capstan along a curvature having a radius smaller than the radius of said capstan and having an apex on said one plane;
• a first information transducing device;
• a second information transducing device;
• means connected to said first transducing device for releasably mounting said first transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said first unsupported tape portion and partially behind said first tape guiding device as seen from said tape guiding surface of said first tape guiding device;
• means connected to said second transducing device for releasably mounting said second transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said second unsupported tape portion and partially behind said second tape guiding device as seen from said tape guiding surface of said second tape guiding device;
• a third information transducing device and means for mounting said third information transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said third unsupported tape portion;
• a fourth information transducing device and means for mounting said fourth information transducing device in transducing relationship with said tape at said fourth unsupported tape portion;
• and
• means connected to said capstan for rotating said capstan to advance said tape.